Strong as a Bull Moose

While campaigning for the presidency as the Bull Moose Party candidate, former president Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest in Milwaukee on this date in 1912. He went ahead with his scheduled speech.

Milwaukee, Wis., October 14 — A desperate attempt to kill Col. Theodore Roosevelt tonight failed when a 32 caliber bullet aimed directly at the heart of the former president and fired at short range by the crazed assailant, spent part of its force in a bundle of manuscript containing the address which Co. Roosevelt was to deliver tonight, and wounded the Progressive candidate for President.

Col. Roosevelt delivered part of his scheduled address with the bullet in his body, his blood staining his white vest as he spoke to a huge throng at the auditorium. Later, he collapsed, weakened by the wound, and was rushed to Emergency hospital.

HistoryBuff.com had the above from a contemporary newspaper account. There’s more.

Roosevelt survived the wound. He died in January 1919, age 60. The Bull Moose Party was officially the Progressive Party.